Cup-counting and dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

A counting and dispensing machine in which nesting cups are stacked on a moveable platform which lowers under the weight of the cups simultaneously raising a counterweight. When the platform reaches its lower most position a second platform is caused to support a new stack of cups at a predetermined cup count above the movable platform while the movable platform is automatically disengaged from the stack of cups permitting them to be dispensed before being returned to an upper position to receive a new stack of cups, by the counterweight. Power for the actuation of the mechanism is derived completely from the weight of the cups with no outside source of power being required. The dispensing and carrying machine is associated with the discharge end of a forming machine and was utilized to provide a predetermined quantity of cups in a single stack for packaging.

United States Patent Theo O. Putnam Fringer Road, Upperco, Md. 21155 [21] Appl. No. 1,762

[72] Inventor 176, 220, 221, 223, 264, 289, 292, 293, 296, 297. 298,175, 295; [77/114, 116, ll8;2l4/8.5 K, 8.5

SS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,938 7/1958 Speroni 221/297 X 1,963,621 6/1934 Geyer 221/221 FOREIGN PATENTS 760,081 6/1960 France 214/8 5 K 14,633 8/1893 GreatBritain Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel A!t0rneyBerman, Davidson and Berman ABSTRACT: A counting and dispensing machine in which nesting cups are stacked on a moveable platform which lowers under the weight of the cups simultaneously raising a counterweight. When the platform reaches its lower most position a second platform is caused to support a new stack of cups at a predetermined cup count above the movable platform while the movable platform is automatically disengaged from the stack of cups permitting them to be dispensed before being returned to an upper position to receive a new stack of cups, by the counterweight. Power for the actuation of the mechanism is derived completely from the weight of the cups with no outside source of power being required. The dispensing and carrying machine is associated with the discharge end of a forming machine and was utilized to provide a predetermined quantity of cups in a single stack for packaging.

PATENTEUNUV 2 3 1971 SHEET 1 [IF 3 FIG. .1.

Z M O. mm m PATENTEDuuv 23 Ian SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 2

INVI'IN'I'UH. THEO 0. par/V44 FIG. 6.

l l i 55 34 55 NVFJNTOR.

THEO 0. p0 7N4/VI,

-- Ill/54 BY ATTORNEYS.

CUP-COUNTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the counting and dispensing of a predetermined quantity of stacked articles such as cups in order to provide a uniform unit of articles for packaging.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art counting and dispensing machines have each required motor-operated counting and dispensing elements for operating the machine. Complicated electric circuitry has also been required in order to have the machine operate accurately and sequentially with an article-forming device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a machine for counting and dispensing nested articles in which the weight of the articles being counted and dispensed actuate the counting and dispensing mechanism without the use of outside power. A counterweight is drawn to an upper position by the weight of the articles, to be used to return the mechanism to a starting point as each cycle of count and dispensing is completed.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive counting and dispensing machine which is actuated by the weight of the articles being counted and dispensed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a semidiagrammatic vertical sectional view taken through the counting column;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the dispensing position of the mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a cupcounting and dispensing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

The machine 10 includes an upright cylindrical tube I! having vertical slots 12, 13 formed in the opposite sides thereof. The tube 11 is mounted on a generally horizontal flat base plate 14 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pair of upright angle iron frame members 15, 16 are secured to the opposite front corners of the base 14 and extend upwardly thereon parallel to the tube 11.

A plate 17 is secured to the angle iron members 15, 16 and the tube 11 in a generally horizontal plane adjacent the upper ends of the slots 11, 12 in the tube 11. A pair of brackets 18, 19 are secured to the plate 17 and extend upwardly therefrom in spaced-apart parallel relation carrying bearings 20, 21 adjacent their upper ends. A transverse shaft 22 is journaled in the bearings 20, 21 and has pulley wheels 23, 24 mounted on the opposite ends thereof.

A diagonal brace 25 extends between the base 14 and each of the angle iron members 15, 16 to assist in stabilizing the machine 10. A discharge tube 26 extends from a cup-forming machine (not shown) and is connected to the upper end of the tube 11.

A pair of shafts 27, 28 are arranged in spaced parallel relation on opposite sides of the tube 11 with their lower ends secured to the base plate 14. The upper ends of the shafts 27, 28 extend through bushings 29, 30 forming part of the plate 17 to secure the shafts thereto. A vertically traveling platform 31 is provided with a pair of guide tubes 32, 33 which are secured to the platform 31 and engage about the shafts 27 28 for verti cal-sliding movement thereon.

A bracket 34 is secured to the tube 32 and a corresponding bracket 35 is secured to the tube 33. A cable 36 is trained over the pulley 23 being secured at one end to the bracket 34 and having removable weights 37 secured to its opposite end. A similar cable 38 is secured at one end of the bracket 35 and is trained over the pulley 24 with weights 39 detachably secured to its opposite end. The platform 31 is normally urged upwardly by the force of the weights 37, 39 acting over the pulley wheels 23, 24 through the cables 36, 38. The platform 31 has a pair of latch plates 40, 41 mounted thereon by means of headed pins 42, 43 which extend through relatively short arcuate slots 44, 45 in the plates 40, 41. A pair of bars 46, 47 are secured respectively to the plates 40, 41 and project outwardly therefrom to receive a compression coil spring 48 therebetween normally urging the plates 40, 41 inwardly toward the tube 11. The plate 40 is provided with a tongue 49 which extends inwardly through the slot 12 in the tube 11 as can be seen in FIG. 5. The plate 41 is provided with a tongue 50 which extends inwardly through the slot 13 in the tube 11 for reasons to be assigned. A semicircular bushing 51 is formed on the plate 40 adjacent the end thereof opposite the tongue 49 and a second semicircular bushing 52 is fonned on the plate 41 at the end thereof opposite the tongue 50. The bushings 51, 52 are arranged in opposed relation to form a generally circular aperture 53 therebetween. A vertical shaft 54 extends parallel to the shafts 27, 28 upwardly through the aperture 53. The lower end of the shaft 54 is mounted on a support 55 carried by the base 14 and is adapted to have vertical sliding movement on a threaded rod 56 carried by the support 55. A coil spring 57 is mounted under a washer 58 forming part of the shaft 54 with the lower end of the spring 57 engaging an adjustable nut 59 on the threaded shaft 56. The platform 31 is adapted to engage the washer 58 and move the shaft 54 downwardly against the tension of the coil spring 57. A prong 60 is carried by the support 55 and projects upwardly therefrom parallel the tube 11 adjacent the shaft 54. The prong 60 has a chisel top 61 which is adapted to engage between the abutting edges of the plates 40, 41 and the bushings 51, 52 to swing the plates 51, 52 outwardly withdrawing the tongues 49, 50 from the slots 12, 13 of the tube 11.

An arm 62 is secured to the platform 31 by a transverse pivot pin 63 to permit the arm 62 to swing with respect to the:

platform 31. An adjustable stop 64 is mounted on the arm 62 and positioned to drop between the bushings 51, 52 to hold the plates 40, 41 in retracted position as the platform 31,

65, 66. Pivot pins 71, 72 respectively pivotally secure the plate 65, 66 to the platform 17.

The plate 65 has a tongue 73 integrally formed thereon and adapted to extend through the slot 12 in the tube 11 for reasons to be assigned. A tongue 74 is integrally formed on the plate 66 to extend through the slot 13 in the tube 11. An upstanding spring arm 75 is mounted on the plate 65 and a second upstanding spring 76 is mounted on the plate 66 and a coil tension spring 77 connects the spring arm 75, 76 to normally bias the plate 65, 66 toward each other at the end thereof carrying the tongues 73, 74 respectively.

The upper end of the shaft 54 has a cam element 78 detachably secured thereto and slidably mounted in a bushing 79 fixedly secured to the platform 17. The cam 78 has a chisel end 80 formed on its upper end which is adapted to engage between the plates 65, 66 and bushings 81, 82 respectively carried thereby to'force the plates 65, 66 to pivot outwardly against the tension of the spring 77 to withdraw the tongues 73, 74 from the tube 11. The cam 78 has an annular groove 83 formed therein to receive a detent ball 84 pressed therein by a compression spring 85 mounted in a tube 86 forming a part of the bushing 79. A thumb screw 87 adjustably secures the spring 85 in the tube 86. A stop collar 88 is secured to the cam 78 to engage against the bushings 79 limiting the upward movement of the cam 78 with respect to the platform 17.

A cam plate 89 is secured to the platform 17 and extends inwardly to overlie the stop 64 to engage the stop 64 upon upward movement of the platform 31 and cam the stop 64 out of its position lying between the plates 40, 41 and bushings 51, 52 to again permit the tongues49, 50 to enter the tube 11. A stop 90 is pivotally mounted at 91 on the frame member and is arranged to be moved by a hand-pressed shaft 92 into engagement with the under side of the platform 31 when it is desired to stop the operation of the machine 10. ln the use and operation of the invention the tube 11 is connected to the discharge tube 26 of a cup-forming machine and cups 93 will be discharged therefrom.

At the beginning point of the operation the platform 41 is at its highest most point wherein it has engaged the cam 78 raising it to spread the plates 65, 66 so as to hold the tongues 73,

74 retracted out of the tube 11. The stop 64 is withdrawn from between the plates 40, 41 so that the tongues 49, 50 extend into the tube 11 in the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The position of the tongues 49, 50 and 73, 74 are then as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the weight of the cups 93 collecting on the tongues 49, 50 causes the platform 31 to descend on the shafts 27, 28 while simultaneously raising the weight 37. As the platform 31 approaches the lower limit of its travel the bushings 51, 52 engage the washer 58 and move the shaft 54 downwardly against the tension of the spring 57 to withdraw the cam 78 from between the plates 65, 66 permitting the tongue 73, 74 to enter the tube 11. Simultaneously the prongs 61 has engaged between the plates 40, 41 and particularly between the bushings 51, S2 thereon so that tongues 49, 50 retract dropping the column of counted cups out of the bottom of the tube 11. As the column of counted cups is dropped from the bottom of the tube 11 additional cups are held by the tongues 73, 74. As soon as the column of cups is released from the platform 31 the platform 31 will rise on the shafts 27, 28 due to the weights 37, 39. The stop 64 is engaged between the bushings 51, 52 was dropped as soon as the plates 40, 41 were spread by the prongs 61 so that the tongues 49, 50 are maintained outside of the tube 11 during the upward travel of the platform 31. As the platform 31 reaches the upper limit of its travel several things happen substantially simultaneously. lnitially the stop 64 strikes the cam surface 89 and is withdrawn from between the plates 40, 41 to permit the tongues 49, 50 to again enter the tube 11. The cam 78 is engaged by the bushings 51 52 and the cam 78 is raised to engage between the plates 65, 66 to move the tongues 73, 74 out of the tube 11. Cups which have been collecting on the tongues 73, 74 will then drop on the tongues 49, 50 and the counting of a new column of cups 93 has begun.

While the invention has been described as a machine which will count cups actually only a specific predetermined quantity of cups will cause the machine to operate. Should it be desired to change the number of cups to be dispensed the platform 17 is vertically adjusted so that only the desired count of cups will be dropped from the bottom of the tube 11 upon separation of the tongues 49, S0.

The present invention has been described as a cup-counting and dispensing machine but the principles of the invention may be utilized with any stacked article. The term cup as used throughout the specification and claims is defined as covering any stackable article.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cup-counting and dispensing machine comprising means receiving and confining into a vertically stacked column a plurality of cups, means vertically movable on said confining means for releasably supporting said column of cups, means on said confining means cooperating with means on said vertically movable means for releasing the column of cups upon the column of cups reaching a predetermined number and counterweight means on said confining means connected to said vertically movable means to permit said vertically movable means to lower as the column of cups is loaded thereon and to return said vertically movable means to its uppermost position.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein means for retaining cups is mounted on said confining means adjacent the upper end thereof to retain cups at the upper end of said confining means as said vertically movable means is returned to its uppermost position.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein means on said confining means actuated by movement of said vertically movable means, releases said retaining means to permit cups to be stacked on said vertically movable means.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said confining means includes a vertically disposed cylindrical tube through which said cups move.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said counterweight means includes a pulley wheel mounted on said confining means, a cable trained over said pulley wheel and connected at one end to said movable means and a weight secured to the other end of said cable.

6. A cup-counting and dispensing machine adapted for attachment to a cup-forming machine to receive formed cups therefrom comprising, a frame, a vertically disposed cylindrical tube having oppositely disposed vertical slots fonned therein mounted in said frame, a platform mounted on said frame adjacent the upper end of said tube, cup retainer tongues mounted on said platform for movement to and from a position extending into said tube through said slots, a vertically movable platform mounted on said frame, cup-supporting tongues mounted on said movable platform for movement to and from a position extending into said tube through said slots, a counterweight pulley mounted on said frame, a cable trained over said pulley and secured to said movable platform at one end, a counterweight secured to the opposite end of said cable permitting said movable platform to descend into said frame under the load cups supported on said cup support tongues and to return said platform to its uppermost position on unloading of the cups therefrom, means on said frame for moving said cup supporting tongues out of said tube to release the column of cups thereon upon movement of said movable platform to its lowermost position on said frame, and means on said frame actuated by movement of said movable platform to its lowermost position on said frame for moving said cupretaining tongues into said tube to retain cups thereon, said last named means being movable by said movable platform upon return to its uppermost position for moving said cupretaining tongues out of said tube to release the cups thereon.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-supporting tongues out of said tube comprises a pointed cam prong fixed to said frame and extending upwardly to engage between said cup-supporting tongues to move them out of said tube upon downward movement of said platform with respect to said prong.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-retaining tongues into said tube and out of said tube includes a shaft having means at its lower end for engagement by said movable platform to move said shaft in one direction and having means adjacent the other end of said shaft for engagement by said movable platform to move said shaft in the opposite direction.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-retaining tongues into and out of said tube includes a cam element supported on said shaft and having a chisel end formed on its upper end for engagement between said cup-retaining tongues.

said frame for moving said cup-supporting tongues out of said tube comprises a pointed cam prong fixed to said frame and extending upwardly to engage between said cup-supporting ownward 5 tongues to move them out of said tube upon downward movement of said platform with respect to said prong. 

1. A cup-counting and dispensing machine comprising means receiving and confining into a vertically stacked column a plurality of cups, means vertically movable on said confining means for releasably supporting said column of cups, means on said confining means cooperating with means on said vertically movable means for releasing the column of cups upon the column of cups reaching a predetermined number and counterweight means on said confining means connected to said vertically movable means to permit said vertically movable means to lower as the column of cups is loaded thereon and to return said vertically movable means to its uppermost position.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein means for retaining cups is mounted on said confining means adjacent the upper end thereof to retain cups at the upper end of said confining means as said vertically movable means is returned to its uppermost position.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein means on said confining means actuated by movement of said vertically movable means, releases said retaining means to permit cups to be stacked on said vertically movable means.
 4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said confining means includes a vertically disposed cylindrical tube through which said cups move.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said counterweight means includes a pulley wheel mounted on said confining means, a cable trained over said pulley wheel and connected at one end to said movable means and a weight secured to the other end of said cable.
 6. A cup-counting and dispensing machine adapted for attachment to a cup-forming machine to receive formed cups therefrom comprising, a frame, a vertically disposed cylindrical tube having oppositely disposed vertical slots formed therein mounted in said frame, a platform mounted on said frame adjacent the upper end of said tube, cup retainer tongues mounted on said platform for movement to and from a position extending into said tube through said slots, a vertically movable platform mounted on said frame, cup-supporting tongues mounted on said movable platform for movement to and from a position extending into said tube through said slots, a counterweight pulley mounted on said frame, a cable trained over said pulley and secured to said movable platform at one end, a counterweight secured to the opposite end of said cable permitting said movable platform to descend into said frame under the load cups supported on said cup support tongues and to return said platform to its uppermost position on unloading of the cups therefrom, means on said frame for moving said cup supporting tongues out of said tube to release the column of cups thereon upon movement of said movable platform to its lowermost position on said frame, and means on said frame actuated by movement of said movable platform to its lowermost position on said frame for moving said cup-retaining tongues into said tube to retain cups thereon, said last named means being movable by said movable platform upon return to its uppermost position for moving said cup-retaining tongues out of said tube to release the cups thereon.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-supporting tongues out of said tube comprises a pointed cam prong fixed to said frame and extending upwardly to engage between said cup-supporting tongues to move them out of said tube upon downward movement of said platform with respect to said prong.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-retaining tongues into said tube and out of said tube includes a shaft having means at its lower end for engagement by said movable platform to move said shaft in one direction and having means adjacent the other end of said shaft for engagement by said movable platform to move said shaft in the opposite direction.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-retaining tongues into and out of said tube includes a cam element supported on said shaft and having a chisel end formed on its upper end for engagement between said cup-retaining tongues.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means on said frame for supporting said cup-supporting tongues out of said tube comprises a pointed cam prong fixed to said frame and extending upwardly to engage between said cup-supporting tongues to move them out of said tube upon downward movement of said platform with respect to said prong.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means on said frame for moving said cup-supporting tongues out of said tube comprises a pointed cam prong fixed to said frame and extending upwardly to engage between said cup-supporting tongues to move them out of said tube upon downward movement of said platform with respect to said prong. 